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54 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
W. Dewart, at that time Botanical Assistant at the Garden, 
made numerous observations, especially noting structural 
characters. Later Mr. J. G. Smith continued the work, 
following much the same plan. My own study of this 
genus began in the spring of 1896 with bringing together 
the material left by others, recording observations on the 
growing plants of that year, and comparing them with 
previous notes. In addition to the work of the gentlemen 
named, I am especially indebted to Professor William Tre- 
lease for valuable assistance and suggestions in all parts of 
the work. 
Concerning the early history of Capsicum, there is 
abundant evidence that the entire genus had its origin in 
the American tropics, though numerous so-called species 
have been attributed to Southern Asia. It seems to have 
been first mentioned by Peter Martyn in an epistle dated 
September 1493, in which he says Columbus brought home 
** pepper more pungent than that from Caucasus.”’ * De 
Candolle advances the opinion that a plant so easily grown 
and so agreeable to the tastes of inhabitants of warm 
countries would probably have been known previous to the 
discovery of America, whereas no ancient Sanskrit or 
Chinese name for the genus is known, neither were the 
Greeks, Romans, nor even Hebrews acquainted with it.f 
The rapidity with which the plants spread in tropical 
countries, together with the increased commercial trade im- 
mediately following the discovery of America, probably 
caused a rapid dissemination through the Old World 
tropics, where the plants were afterwards found by later 
botanists, many of whom supposed them to be indigenous. 
The opinion of different authorities seems to vary greatly 
concerning the number of species and varieties. Three 
varieties were figured by Fuchsius in 1542, thirteen by 
Gregorius in 1611, twenty by Parkinson in 1640, Thirty- 
five were mentioned by Morison in 1699, twenty-seven by 
* Sturtevant, American Naturalist 24: 151. 1890, 
t De Candolle, Origin of Cultivated Plants 288. 1882, 
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